--Michael G. Williams, CEARCH

CEARCH: What's the single biggest issue which could become a problem for a school or system attempting to get itself networked?

Ms. Rogers: Money, and then time. After funds are gotten to install networking, then they need time for staff development, training, etc.

Does North Carolina have those sorts of resources, or does a school have to come up with that on its own?

NC does have resources on the state level, but not the big resource of people to go in locally and help design their system.

How do schools deal with that need?

Grants, NetDay, local businesses, community members, etc. Smaller systems can write grants, but if it's a small school system in a rural area, there probably isn't the local business & industry support which a school system in a more urbanized area can--and should--look for.

In terms of training time, the state Department of Public Instruction has workshops/sessions for people who need to create time for staff development.

What's the most effective strategy for convincing parents & administrators of the value of some new technology, be it some piece of software, or web-surfing, or just a computer itself?

Let's say I want to get something in place, some new technology or software, throughout a system or a school. Go ahead and have one station up and running. At open house, PTA meetings, etc., use the station and show it to parents, show them the research that can be done. Show them real-time research as opposed to conventional research, how it can be used for writing, whatever it would be used for. Once you get them infront of the computer, playing with it and trying it out, they're going to be much more likely to support getting that technology into the schools and in place. They'll see how effective it can be, and by putting it infront of them you've made it real for them. If you just get up and talk about the World Wide Web or a CD-ROM, it's probably going to translate into some sort of over-priced hype, in their minds--and understandably, considering how expensive some things can be. Once you show them how powerful it is, however, and that it's probably much more reasonable, cost-wise, than they're thinking, then you can really start building support for your efforts. That'll make things much easier for you throughout the entire process.